John watson



J. WATSON. Bit Stock.

(No Model.)

No. 243,093. Patented Jun 21,1881.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

N PUERS. Phololimo nphor, Wnhiugtcm 0,0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WATSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

B|T-STOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,093, dated June 21,1881,

Application filed March 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN WATSON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and Stateof New York, have made certain Improvements in Bit-B races forAuger-Bits, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a brace or socket for holding different bits,the object being to produce one that will accommodate any sized bit, andwhich can be put in by a mere push, and will be held securely untilloosened to take it out, which is accomplished in an instant, the mainobject being to save time in taking out one bit and putting in another,one brace and handle serving for all; and the invention consists in itsconstruction, as fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical crosssection through the centerof the shank or holder and outside case, showing the bit held by thegripes; Fig. 2, a top plan showing the ends of the shank, the gripes,and also thecentral hole for the entrance of the bit; Figs. 3 and 4:,details of the gripes, Fig. 3 being a front view, and Fig. 4 aside view.

A represents the solid metal shank, and B the outside metal case, beinga shell fastened over the shank. The shank is made with the usualcentral hole, a, for the bit-shank to set in. In addition there are tworecesses, b b, one each side of the bit-openin g a, in which are setspiral springs c 0, and connected to or in contact with these springsare two steel gibs or gripes, D D, one each side of thecentral shank,

.A, as shown, which is cut into curved ways (fitting the shape of thegripes) or slides, partly shown at h h, Fig. 2, for these gripes toslide in, and when a pressure is exerted on them (to put in the bit)they slide downwardly andinwardly. This enlarges the opening g, and,pressing against the springs c c, compresses them down into the recessesb b, and as soon as the pressure is removed the springs throw up thegripes into place, seizing the bit by the round par-t above its shank,as shown in Fig. 1. These gripes are constructed as shown in all thefigures, more especially in Figs. 3 and 4-viz., a curved shank with aprojecting pin at the bottom, which sets in the top of the coiled spring0, the top provided with aright-angled projecting gib or head withteeth,its center rounded out, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive the bit 0.The shank part of each gripe extends both sides beyond the head proper,as shown at f f, and these sides set in curved ways in the sides of theshank A, part-1y shown at h h, Fig. 2. Their tops also curve over, asshown in Figs. 1 and 4, so that these gripes come closer together asthey rise to the top of the shank A. This prevents the drawing out ofthe bit, as any direct pull on it only tightens it in the brace.

The bit is removed as follows: The outer case, B,has a slot, (1, on eachside, near the top, and through this a screw or pin, 6, projects andfastens into the gripe D. By pressing downward with the thumb andforefinger on these screw-heads 0 they slide the gripes D down, which,following the curve of the shank and case outward, release the hold ofthe gripes on the bit, which can at once be dropped out. The springs 0 0throw the gripes back into place, as before stated. These gripes and thecase and shank A might be made conical to produce the same effect, butwould make the brace bigger, and I prefer them rounded, as taking upless space.

All that is required to change a bit is to press down on the screw-headse e and pull or drop the bit out and push the other bit (larger orsmaller) into the central hole, g, Fig. 2, and down into theshank-receptacle a. It is thus held immovable until released.

As a brace or socket for awls, &c., this device will be found equallyuseful.

I claim- The bit-brace consisting of the shank A, having thebit-receptacle a, the spring-recesses b b, and gripe-slides h it formedtherein, the gripes D D, constructed as described and sliding in theways h h in said shank, the springs 0 c, the outer case, B, having theslots (1 01 therein, and the screws or pins 66, attached to the gripesand projecting through said slots, all constructed, combined, andarranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN WATSON. Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, GEO. A. BURNETT.

